The Consequences of Sin
Genesis 3
The first two chapters of the Bible depict a harmonious creation by God, where people, living creatures, and the natural world exist in perfect unity. When the Book of Genesis was written, some interpretations suggested that the world emerged from violence and hatred. But no, Genesis says: “And God saw that it was good.” (Gen 1:18b, NIV)
In Genesis 3, humanity begins to take a dark turn. This chapter reveals profound truths about human nature. We are often drawn to the ‘forbidden fruit’; there is a certain allure in crossing boundaries and doing what we know we should not. However, it is important to remember that when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they experienced shame. They also tried to evade responsibility—Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent, “The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it. Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
The harmony between Adam and Eve and nature was disrupted, leading to the introduction of death into the natural world. To cover their shame, God made clothing for them from animal skins, which meant that animals had to die.
Life becomes much harder and much more painful. To the woman, God said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labour, you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” To Adam, God said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil, you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” It is tragically true that ‘Imaginary evil is romantic and varied; real evil is gloomy, monotonous, barren, boring. Imaginary good is boring; real good is always new, marvelous, and intoxicating.’
Adam and Eve were not abandoned; the Bible is full of grace. Let Genesis 3 serve as a warning: sin has consequences, and we will regret wrongdoing.
Today, let us come to God and repent for the times we have erred due to our failure to trust the One who knows best. Thankfully, God forgives us, and we have the Spirit within us to guide us in doing better.
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